THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE CONSIST OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL BE MADE UP OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Most of these followers [of Hazrat Mahdi (as)] ARE YOUNGwhile the old are very few. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol: 52, p. 334)
THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE ARE FEW IN NUMBER. THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO BE FEW IN NUMBER
Abu Bashir says: Imam Abu Abdullah said: "There WILL BE VERY FEW PEOPLE from among the Arabs alongside the Qaim [Hazrat Mahdi (as)]."...(Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Numani, al-Ghaybah al-Numani, p. 239)
Their numbers will be those of the people of Badr (313).In the same way that those before them cannot pass beyond them, neither those who come after can reach them. Their number is as many as those who crossed the river with Saul. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 57)
Imam Muhammad Bakr and Imam Jaffar Sadik said this about Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) followers: “They will take over the east and west. EACH WILL BE AS POWERFUL AS FORTY PEOPLE. THEIR HEARTS ARE LIKE IRON. SO MUCH SO THAT THE WORDS ‘THERE IS NO DEITY BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS HIS PROPHET’ WILL BE ECHOED AND HEARD EVERYWHERE.”(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 340)
ALLAH INSTILLS FORTITUDE AND DETERMINATION IN THE HEARTS OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE. THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO POSSESS FORTITUDE AND DETERMINATION.
They consist of a group, including women, of 314 people. They will overcome all tyrants. Their hearts are like iron, and they are lions by day and devout believers by night. Neither those before nor after them can match them in self-sacrifice.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, pp. 57-58)
Imam az-Zaman [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will rub his hands between his followers’ chests and shoulders by which they will not hesitate in any judgment. No decision will be difficult for them. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol: 52, p. 345, 'Al-Fetan Wa Al-Malahem; Mikyaal al-Makaarem, vol.1, p.144/235)
THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE SPENT YEARS IN THE CAVE. THE STRUGGLE OF THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO LAST MANY YEARS. THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF STRUGGLE LASTING SOME 40 YEARS.
… HIS SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL CONQUEST OF ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE HEJAZ WILL TAKE SOME FORTY YEARS... (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 186)
PEOPLE AVOID THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE, AND ALLAH SAYS THEY WERE FEARED AND AVOIDED. PEOPLE WILL ALSO KEEP AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)
He said: "Look for them at the edges of the world. THEIR LIVES ARE SIMPLE, THEIR HOMES ARE ON THEIR BACKS, EVEN IF PRESENT THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED, IF THEY ARE LOST NONE WILL LOOK FOR THEM, IF THEY ARE SICK NONE WILL VISIT THEM, AND IF THEY WISH TO MARRY NONE WILL COME TO THEM. IF THEY DIE, NONE WILL ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS. THEY SHARE THEIR POSSESSIONS EQUALLY AMONG THEM AND VISIT ONE ANOTHER’S GRAVES; THEIR WISHES ARE ALL THE SAME, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT CITIES."(Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Numani, al-Ghaybah al-Numani, p. 238)
ALLAH SAYS HE ENHANCED THE RELIGIOUS CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE. THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO GRADUALLY MATURE AND GROW IN FAITH.
The nature of his [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)] followers will be PURE AND IMMACULATE. THEY WILL BE FREE FROM HYPOCRICY AND ALL OTHER CONTAMINATIONS. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol 52, p. 35)
Their [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) followers’] HEARTS WILL BE UNTAINTED AND UNADULTERATED FROM MALICE, JEALOUSY AND ENMITY. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol 52, p. 35)
THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE PREACHED BEFORE THE KING OF THE TIME, AND THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO BE WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE FROM THE ELITE OF THEIR TIME AND WILL PREACH TO THEM.
The followers of Imam-e-Zamaan [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will be NOBLE, LEARNED AND RULERS OF THE EARTH. ('Al-Fetan Wa Al-Malahem for Ibn Kathir, p. 205)
THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE DESCRIBE THE FIRST CREATION BEFORE THE KING. THEY SAY THAT ALLAH CREATES ALL THINGS, NOT CHANCE, AND THAT THERE IS A DIVINE BEING. THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO DESCRIBE CREATION.
First: Under the effect of science and philosophy, and the contagious plague known as materialism and naturalism, and its SPREAD AMONG PEOPLE, HE WILL FIRST OF ALL SAVE THE FAITH IN SUCH A WAY AS TO SILENCE PHILOSOPHY AND MATERIALSIM…(Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Emirdag Addendum, p. 259)
THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE BELIEVE WITHOUT ASCRIBING EQUALS TO ALLAH. THE COMMUNITY OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL ALSO CONCENTRATE SOLELY ON THE QUR’AN AND OUR PROPHET’S (SAAS) INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR’AN
According to al-Tabarani and Abu Nuaym's accounts from Abu Said Al-Khudri; the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "A man will appear from my Ahl al-Bayt. HE WILL SPEAK OF MY SUNNAH.” (Mar'i Ibn Yusuf Ibn Abi baqr Ibn Ahmet Ibn Yusuf al-Maqdi'si "Feraidu Fawaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar”)
WHEN PEOPLE INTERPRET THE QUR’AN ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN LOWER SELVES, HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL CORRECTLY TURN THEIR THOUGHTS TO THE QUR’AN AND PLACE THEM UNDER THE SERVICE OF THE TRUTHS OF THE QUR’AN. AFTER THAT HE WILL SHOW YOU HOW THE BOOK AND THE SUNNAH HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN AND REVEAL THEIR LIVE MEANINGS. (Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 134)
The Messenger of Allah (saas) says; “THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE JUST FROM MY AHL AL-BAYT FOR MY COMMUNITY. THEY WILL KEEP THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE DISTORTERS, THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THE SUPERSTITIOUS AND THE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE IGNORANT AWAY FROM THE RELIGION; hear the truth that your imams are the messengers who will lead you to Allah, and so look and see who your messengers are.” (Sawaiq al-Muhriqa, Ibn Hajar, p. 148)
